Flying-machine



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FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION EILED DEC. 221 19H.

Patented May 4,1920;

s sains-snm" 1v' G. R. HENRY.

FLYING rvmcHlNE.`

APPLICATION FIIJD DEC. 22, 1917.

Patented May 4,1920.

R. HENRY.

FLYING MACHINE.

.'.PPucATloN FILED Dec. 22. 1911.

Patented May 4, 1920.

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llrllll I SQ 'mwmtoz G. R. HENRY.

FLYING MACHINE.'

TION FILED DEC. 22

' 917. 1,339,336. Patnted May 4, 1920.

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G. R. HENRY.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 050.22. 1917.

Patented May 4, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

m3 No' @wom/woz GEORGE R. HENRY, OF DENVER, COLORADO. y

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application led December 22, 1917. Serial No. 208,364.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen R. HENRY, citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver' and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines; and Il do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in vflying machines ofthe aeroplane class, my object being to minimize danger and at the same time increase the power, whereby great weight may be carried and greater speed attained.

My improved construction provides a new type of aeroplane which is designed to fly or move through the air in a direction lengthwise of the machine, thereby making it practicable to employ one or more driving propellers mounted on each side of the plane and elevating propellersattached at or near the front and rear ends respectively of thel machine.

The type, shape and constructionof the cover, wings, drop-walls, and the position of the body of the `frame work, together with that of the machinery or operating mechanism, arranged as they are in relation to the air-bearing surface, make it practicable to carry out the idea of maintaining the machine when in the air in the proper or upright position, thereby minimizing danger in aviation. Where `my improved machine is employed, if the operator should lose control of the machinery or if through accident the power shouldv cease to be available, neces? sitating descending, my improved machine would move downwardly in the upright position. cover'over the frame work have the concaved side down, while the drop-walls on the frame divide the currents of air, whereby.l

they are equally distributed over the entire air bearing surface, whereby these currents are caused to move to the rear end of the machine making their influence most'eiiec` tive. the propellers on the opposite sidesof the machine not only exert a propelling or driv` In my improvement the wings or` I-Ience, the air currents produced by ing force by their rearward travel, but also eX'ert a supporting or lifting force underneath the curvedplanes or covering of the machine, which covering is located immediately `above the upper edges of the drop walls land-extends on both sides thereof.

My improved iiying machine includes a frame work built in elongated form, the width,- height and length being properly proportioned. The width and height of the body of the frame work may be the same or approximately the same, while the length f may be from siX to ten times the width.

-I-Iavingbriefly outlined my improvement, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing:

Figure l` is y a side elevation of my improved flying machine.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation or a view look.- ing toward the right from line 2-2, Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a-fragmentary top plan view `of the operatingfmechanism taken on the line 33, Fig. 1 lookingy downwardly.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the flying machine, or a view taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 1y looking downwardly.

Fig.` 5 is van elevation taken on the line 5--5,A Fig. 1 looking toward the right, the

Fig. y3, the parts being shown on a much larger scale. w

Fig. 9 is a sectiontaken on the line 9--9, Fig. 3, the parts being shown on a much largeri scale. y

Fig.'` 10 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 10-10 Fig. 4 viewed in the direction of the arrows. v

Fig. 11 is a perspective view ofthe stabilizing top wing. i

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views. j

Let the numeral-5 designate the' frame-y work of they structure which is composed of a number of vertically disposed side bars 6, constituting two rows of such bars, the bars of each row being longitudinally spacedand the two rows being transversely spaced forming a rigid body or frame work which is provided with central ,depending bars 7 carrying supporting wheels 8, there being two bars 7 spaced transversely and arranged at the opposite extremities. of the machine and suitably spaced, the wheels 9, as illustrated in the drawing being raised somewhat above the wheels 8 which are centrally located between the wheels 9.

The frame work of the machine is provided Iwith a covering 10 which is secured to the top of the frame bars 6 and is curved, its lower -surface being concave and extending beyond the frame work on opposite sides, as shownvat 12. This covering may be of any suitable construction, being preferably composed of a light skeleton frame wor covered with canvas or other suitable material. The covering as well as the-frame work-5 is relatively long as compared vwith its width. This covering is connected with the frame work by guy-wires or cables 13 arranged in any suitable manner in order to give the necessary rigidity to the covering of the frame work of the structure.

The machine is further provided with relatively short depending side walls 14 which are secured to the vertically disposed side bars 6, the lower edge of the side walls extending approximately to the level of the lower free edges of the side members 12 of the covering. These side walls space the air currents and compel these currents to be confined between the top covering and the side walls, whereby the currents are caused to extendlrearwardly for propelling purposes and also to act upon the covering parts 12 to perform to some degree the lifting` function.

he machine is provided on opposite sides with longitudinally disposed shafts 15 which lare suitably spaced and equipped with any desired number of propellers 16 which may be of any suitable construction. The shafts 15 are journaled in transversely arranged bars 17, which as illustrated in the drawing extend considerably below the side members 14 and the coveringparts 12, which extend laterally beyond the frame work, fas heretofore explained.

As illustrated in the drawing, there are three propellers 16 arranged on each shaft 15, thoughv itk must be understoodthat a .greater lnumber of propellers may be employed or a smaller number but ynot less than two:if the machine is to be properly stabilized.

-These propellers. are operated from fan .engine or motor-18 having an operating which are. normally loose on the respective shafts 19 and 22, said connection being made by means of belts 28. Furthermore, each shaft 15 is equipped with a relatively small pulley 25 which is connected by means of a belt 26 with a larger pulley 27. By virtue of this construction, each shaft 15 may have a high or low speed as may be desired. As heretofore indicated, both the pulleys 24 and the pulleys 27 on the two shafts 19 and 22 are normally loose on said shafts. Each of these shafts is provided with a clutch member 29 splinedthereon and composed of two parts 30 adapted to interlock with eithery the pulley 24 or the pulley 27, the clutchA member being shiftable through the medium of a lever 31 fulcrumed on the frame, as'sliown at 32 and rmanually operable, as will be readily understood. When the clutch member is shifted to engage the pulley 24 of either shaft, the propeller shaft 15 is operated at low speed, while when the clutch is shifted to interlock with the pulley 27, the propeller shaft is operated at high speed, since the pulleys 27 are considerably larger thanthe pulleys 25. It should be explained that one of the propeller shafts 15 may be operated at high speed and the other at low speed This enables the operator to turn the machine by controlling machine is provided with a number of veri tically disposed propeller shafts 33 and 34, the shaft 33 beinglocated near the rear end of the machine and the shaft 34 near the forward. end. These shafts are yjournaled in the frame work of the structure and are independently operable through the medium of horizontally disposed shafts 35 and 36 which are also journaled in the frame work above the shafts 15. The shaft 35 is oper ably connected: with the shaft 33 through the medium of .beveled gears 36a and 37, the gear 36a being fast on the shaft 35 and the gear 37 fast on the shaft 33. The shaft 35 is operably connected with the shaft 19, through the medium of a belt 38 connected withga .pulley 39 which is fast onv the shaft 35 with a loose pulley 40 normally loose on the shaft 19. The pulley 40 while 'normally loose on the shaft 19, as just explained,

is adapted to be interlocked with the shaft through the medium of a clutch 41 splined` on'the shaft 19 and shiftable` through the medium of a lever 42 fulcrumed at 43, the lever being operably connected, as shown at 44, with a collar 45 having a circumferential tongue 46 adapted to engage the corresponding groove 47. Again,.theshaft` 36 is provided with a beveled gear 48 which meshes with a similar gear 49 -fast on the vertical shaft 34. The shaft 36 is operated through the medium of a belt 50 which connects a pulley 51 normally loose on the shaft 22 with a pulley 52 fast onthe shaft 36. Vhen it is desired to operate the shaft 34, a clutch 53 which is splined on the shaft 22 is shifted into engagement with the normally loose pulley 51, whereby the latter is operated to actuate the shaft 36 and the shaft 34 through the medium of the gears 48 and 49.

Each of the shafts 33 and 34 extends upwardly through the curved covering 10, its upper extremity being equippedk with a lifting or elevating propeller 54, which also may be usedto hover in the air and to make a very slow descent. When the shafts 33 and 34 are operated, the propellers 54 are actuated to lift the machine vertically. In starting the machine the forward propeller 54 may be first set in motion until the forward end of the machine is tilted sufliciently to cause it to rise at a suitable inclination. The rear propeller 54 may then be set in motion, in which event both propellers 54 will serve to perform the lifting or elevating function and the machine may then be kept in an inclined position if desired with both of the lifting propellers in motion, or after the machine is started, the operation of the lifting propellers may be discontinued and the machine controlled entirely by the driving propellers 16 arranged on opposite sides of the machine, as hertofore explained.

Supported above the longitudinally disposed concavo-convex wing, plane or covering 10, is a transversely disposed stabilizing warped wing or plane 55 which is supported in the center by uprights 56 extendn ing upwardly from the side bars 13 of the main frame 5. This stabilizing plane or wing 55 is warped to produce a central depression 57, the two opposite sides of the wingbeing bowed upwardly between their extremities, as shown at 58, while the opposite ends of the wing are bowed upwardly between their extremities, as shown at 59. This warped auxiliary wing aids as hereto fore stated, in maintaining the machine ina state of equilibrium.

From the foregoing description the` use `and operation of my improved iyin machine will be readily understood. en the machine is resting upon the ground preparatory to beginning a iight, it will rest upon the rear pair of wheels 9 and the central pair of wheels 8, thus tilting the forward extremity, or that at the left in Fig. 1, upwardly. The propellers 16 `on both sides of the machine are then set in motion by the propeller adjustment of the clutches 29, whereby the shafts 15 are vlowermost, as heretofore explained.

operated at either high or low speed, depending on whether the pulleys 23 or 25` are connected in operative relation with the shafts 19 and 22. Which ever speed these shafts are running at, the machine will be driven forwardly and upwardly, the direction of Hight coinciding with the longitudinal dimension of the machine or of the wing or plane 10 whose concave surfac'wlis e two lifting propellers may be set in motion one at a time or both at the same time as desired. If only one is put in motion in the first instance, it should preferably .be the forward propeller since this motion will have a tendency `to, tilt thel forward extremity ofthe machine upwardly as is required in commencing a flight. The rear propeller may then be set in motion, that is to say, after the machine is properly tilted; in which event both of the propellers 54 will serve to perform the elevatingor lifting function. Each of the driving propellers has a beveled face 60 at its outer extremity which has a tendency to throw the air upwardly, while the other face of the `propeller is driving the air rearwardly on opposite sides of the machine. This upward tendency of the air, together with a certain degree of compression due to the longitudinally owing air currentsv developed by the driving propellers 16 and confined by the drop walls 14 and the outer `side portions of the main wing, will exercise a lifting tendency on the downwardly bent or curved portions 12 of the main plane or wing. In this way the driving propellers. also serve to perform a lifting function.

When it is desired to turn the machine, the propellers on the opposite side from that toward which the machine is to turn, will be operated at a high speed while the propellers on the inner side will be operated at low speed.

This will compel the side where the high speed propellers are located to travel so to speak, faster than the opposite side, thus causing the machine to turn in the desired direction.

Attention is called to the fact that in making a descent the concavo-convex plane or wing will perform the function of a-parachute, the parts of the machine being arranged to bring the gravity center of the machine below the center of the main wing or plane. By virtue of this vpeculiar construction of the main wing or plane, the machine may be allowed to descend in a vertical direction in case the engine should become disabled, `since the wing having its concave surface lowermost and extending on opposite sides of the main central frame work together with the drop walls 14 will resist the too rapid downward movement of the machine. In making a descent, when the machine is in use the lifting propellers the engine and all parts of the machine are operative and capable of performing their proper functions, the machine may .be caused to glide in an inclined direction in the manner usual with flyinor machines of the aeroplane type. My machine, however, has the advantage over others so far as I am aware, of being able to make a vertical descent either with or without the use of the lifting propellers.

The topA plane 57 which is disposed transversely to the direction of flight and crosswise of the' main wing or plane 10 facilitates the maintaining of the machine in a state of equilibrium at all times. Attention is called to the fact that the plane in addition to the supports 56 is further connected withthe frame work of the machine and with the parts 12 of the main wing, by means of a series of guy-wires'or cables 61.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A flying machine including a frame work whose length is several times its width and which is longitudinally disposed to the direction of flight, a main wing applied to the top of said framework and having its corresponding dimensions similarly proportioned and coincidently disposed, the said wing extending laterally on both sides of the frame work, and a stabilizing wing whose length is greater than its width, the said wing being mounted above the main wing and having its length disposed at right angles to the direction of flight, said stabilizing wing being spaced upwardly from the top of the main wing and having a central depression, the side and end portions of the wing being bowed upwardly between their extremities. l

2: A flying machine including a frame work longitudinally disposed to the direc` tion of flight, a single rigid main wing plane applied to said frame and having its under face concaved longitudinally and provided with drop walls forming in connection with the wing separated longitudinally extending air channels along the under face of the wing, and a plurality of propellers on each side of the machine located one in the rear of another and below and within the limits of certain of said air channels, said propellers being adapted to direct air currents upwardly against the under face of said wing and into said channels,

3,. A flying machine including a single relativelyv stationary main wing plane disi posed longitudinally to the direction of flight and having its under face concavedplane, and a plurality of propellers on each 'i side of the machine located one in the rear y' of another, and below and within the limits of certain Vof said air channels, said propellers having their bladey faces constructed to direct currents of air upwardly against:

the under face of said wing plane and into certain of said channels and to direct currents of air directly rearwardly.

4. A flying machine, including a main wing whose length is several times greater than its width, its length being longitudinally disposed with respect to thedirec tion of flight, and a stabilizing wing whose length is greater than its width, the said stabilizing wing being spaced from the main wing and having its length disposed at right angles to the direction of flight, said stabilizing wing having a central depression, the side and end portions of the wing being bowed vertically'between their extremities.

5. In combination in a flying machine, a frame work whose length is several times its width and which is longitudinally disposed to the direction of flight, a single main wing plane applied to the top of said frame work and having its corresponding dimensions similarly proportioned and ycoincidentally disposed, the said wing extending laterally on both sides of the frame work, having its under surface concaved longitudinally and provided withv spaced drop walls forming in connection with the wing separate fixed air channels extending longitudinally along the under face of said wing, a plurality of propellers on each side of the machine located one in the rear of another and below and within the limits of said air channels, said propellers having their blade faces constructed. so as to direct currents of air upwardly against the under face of said wing and into certain of said channelsand to directl currents of air directly rearward,`a motor, and means connected therewith for operating said prof' tions bow upwardly having a central depression and whose length is greater than as Wiart, said stabilizing Wing being disposed above the central portion of the main wing and transversely thereof, propellers horizontally arranged on both sides of said frame work and centrally below certain of said air channels, said propellers being constructed to direct air currents upwardly and rearwardly, elevating propellers arranged above the said main wing plane and near each end thereof to lift the machine, to hover in the air and to stabilize movement of the machine, a motor and operative connections between the motor and all of the propellers, all the parts of the machine being arranged to place the gravity center of the combined weight of said parts below the central portion of the said main wing plane, the main wing plane thereby constituting a parachute.

7: A flying machine, including a navigable parachute comprising a main wing plane, said wing plane being greater in length than in width and having its under median air channel, a stabilizing wing f whose length is greater than its width ar ranged above the main wing 'plane and transversely thereof, said stabilizing wing having a central depression and having its end side portions bowed vertically, pro'- pellers arranged on each side of the framework and below said outer air channels to driven-the machine horizontally, other propellers arranged on top of said framework and near each end thereof, said propellers being operated to lift or lower the machine horizontally to glide or hover in air, a

vmotor, and operative connections between the motor and all the propellers.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

GEORGE R. HENRY. 

